22 October 2001

Labour's credit card promise to crack down on youth crime has been exposed as empty rhetoric with latest Police figures showing a rise in youth offending under the Labour Government, National's Police spokesman Tony Ryall said today.

"Before the election, George Hawkins said 'the 'massive growth' in youth offending across the country could not simply be blamed on parents. Government policies had to take some of the blame'. * Well Mr Hawkins, it's time you took some of the blame," Mr Ryall said.

Figures obtained by Mr Ryall through written questions to Mr Hawkins show 3,763 more crimes were committed by youths under 17 years of age in the 2000-2001 year than during 1998-1999. The number of crimes committed by youths has jumped from 42,495 to 46,258 in just two years.

"Labour's 'Youth Offending Policy' said 'youth offending policy should have the primary aim of preventing crime'. Mr Hawkins and his colleagues must now front up and tell New Zealanders why crime has increased, rather than been prevented, under their Government.

"Under Labour, violent crime has gone through the roof and more young people are committing crimes. This isn't what New Zealanders thought they were voting for," Mr Ryall said.

Ends

* Christchurch Press 1 July 1999

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